SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Taxi riders may have noticed that City Cab drivers have flashy new Blackberry Nexus 7 tablets.

Nero Mohamed, general manager with City Cab, shows off his company's new app-based dispatch system. His fleet is being upgraded with Blackberry tablets that will modernize the taxi system. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL Photo

It's part of a $100,000 investment by the company to modernize with a tablet-and-app system to get ahead of potential competitors such as Uber, which has been sweeping through taxi markets across North America.

Uber is an app-based taxi system that allows people to sign up to be drivers and offer rides to customers. A mobile app uses a cell phone's GPS system to track where customers and drivers are at any given time instead of a centralized dispatch system.

"City Cab is trying to modernize the taxi industry in Yellowknife and also ensure that we have a level field with Uber," said Nero Mohamed, general manager of City Cab.

The system he's introducing mimics the Uber system. A mobile app will allow customers to order cabs through text, track where cabs are in real time, get a message when they show up and save receipts in the app.

"We are trying to ensure that technology comes here before anyone else brings it," said Mohamed.

"We are the oldest cab company in Yellowknife. I think it is just fitting that we bring in the new technology."

The new dispatch system should speed up operations, meaning customers will no longer have to go through the phone dispatch system. Favourite places to be picked up like home or work can be saved in the app for quicker service.

As the new devices are rolling out, some voices on social media have expressed concern about distracted driving when cab drivers are using the tablets.

Doug Gillard, manager of municipal enforcement, said the devices are allowable because they're mounted.

"They can't use them as handheld devices," he said. "It's got to be securely mounted to the dash. If they're holding it in their hand while they're operating the vehicle, they're subject to the same fines as anybody who's using an electronic device."

He hasn't heard any concerns yet.

"They've had a dispatch system in place for 10 years or more on their dash," said Gillard. "It required them to push a button or two to accept or decline a trip. In one way this is nothing new. They've had this in place for a long time ­ it's just they're upgrading to a more modernized, advanced system."

Mayor Mark Heyck said there's been no safety concern yet, but if residents do notice the tablets being used without being securely mounted, they should contact City Cab or the city.

Mohamed said he is not concerned about a safety issue.

"If we've got anybody who didn't mount it, then there will be penalties," he said.

The tablets should all be installed by the end of the month and the mobile app will follow soon after and be available from the City Cab website.

Mohamed said new projects come with certain issues and asks customers be patient if any arise during implementation.

Aurora Taxi could not be reached for comment by press time.

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